Walker Daniel, the Founder of Danville - The Filson Historical Society

1939] Walker Daniel, Founder of Danville 141
secured to them, by the adoption of some other mode than the
present, I am greatly at a loss to Know where others could be got
to supply their places.
"Unless men of abilities & Integrity fill so high an office, it
were better for the people to annihilate the Tribunal & leave
them as they were. Few men of capacity here will for some
years be willing to undertake the offices, because other Employments
offer, which afford more lucrative prospects: Something
therefore should be clone to induce the present members to continue.
If a Dissolution of the Court takes place, anarchy &
confusion must follow, because faction & error will bring the
County Court into Contempt: their authority will immediately
be trampled on & disregard [sic]--Exclusive of other Differences,
pomp & sound have a great influence over the minds of nine
tenths of mankind--In a Frontier too, so remote as ours, to which
the Knave & the outlaw from every State in the Union fly as to an
Asylum, a place of Impurity, the Springs of Government cannot
be too tightly wound up: the punishment should tread close on
the heels of the crime: As a state of Idleness & Inactivity has
been the parent of Sedition, So a relaxation in the Execution of
the penal Laws of the State will beget and [sic] unwillingness to
obey any Law at all. Hence we may infer, that if we have no
superintending Court, which we cannot have without Funds to
support it, a Revolution in this Country will ensue, and then no
man can say that he is sure of his property an hour.
"I am persuaded that no two thinking men in the District, of
honest disinterested Intentions, at present, wish a separation
from the Eastern part of the State, but if the Indians are neglected
and the Court unsupported, I am at a loss to say how long
they will continue in their present Sentiments....
"One thing more I would wish to observe. That as soon as
the people are allowed to go out & settle generally on their own
Farms, Merchants will find it to their Interest to encourage
Industry. Exports in Tobo., Hemp, Flour, Pork, &c., will
shortly take place & then the Inhabitants will be enabled to
render to the State in Taxes what they now should draw from it
in Protection. This appears to me to be an object of national
concern, of sufficient magnitude to merit some attention from
the Legislature."s
lqo taint of Spanish Conspiracy here or of any other treasonous
project. We question whether his successor, Harry Inn.is, was
ever so sagacious, unselfish or loyal.
Shortly thereafter, June 16, 1784, Daniel purchased from
John Crow the original bounds of Danville---seventy-six acres-which
the deed recites was for a consideration of five shillings,
tantamount to our present "$1. and other valuable considera-
ii Calendar of Virginia State Papers, Vol. 3, pages 584-588.